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Elfhome #3
Elfhome
Book Three of the Elfhome series, the follow-up to exciting Wolf Who Rules and the award-winning fantasy-SF novel that started it all, Tinker.
Elfhome. A world of powerful magic, beautiful elves, man-eating trees, frost-breathing wargs, and god-like dragons. Pittsburgh. A city that has been stranded deep in virgin elfin forest to stave off an invasion by the merciless oni. Its population of sixty thousand humans and a handful of elves are pitted in war that will only end in genocide. Winter is coming. Supplies are running low. All political ties are fraying. Hidden somewhere in Pittsburgh's crumbling neighborhoods, a vanguard of oni are growing in number and attacking from the shadows.
And children are disappearing.
Girl genius Tinker was once a human orphan, growing up on the Pittsburgh streets. Now she's an elf princess with all the bells and whistles. She rules over a melting pot of humans, elves, half-oni, and the crow-like tengu. Prejudices are rampant, pitting even the elves against each other. Hoverbike races, concerts of rock and roll fused with elf music, and artist communes of human and elves are proof that Pittsburgh can be a place where races and species can meet and meld in freedom.
Tinker is determined to make her city a place of such freedom. She's going to have to kick butt and take names. And she has to do it quickly. Seven elf children are already missing -- and the oni eat their prisoners when they outlive their usefulness.
Tinker uncovers ancient secrets and a web of betrayal as she searches for the children. The oni will stop at nothing to win, so neither can she. At five foot nothing, Tinker's greatest weapon has always been her intelligence. Politics, she discovers, is a battle of wits, and she's heavily armed.
Elfhome. A world of powerful magic, beautiful elves, man-eating trees, frost-breathing wargs, and god-like dragons. Pittsburgh. A city that has been stranded deep in virgin elfin forest to stave off an invasion by the merciless oni. Its population of sixty thousand humans and a handful of elves are pitted in war that will only end in genocide. Winter is coming. Supplies are running low. All political ties are fraying. Hidden somewhere in Pittsburgh's crumbling neighborhoods, a vanguard of oni are growing in number and attacking from the shadows.
And children are disappearing.
Girl genius Tinker was once a human orphan, growing up on the Pittsburgh streets. Now she's an elf princess with all the bells and whistles. She rules over a melting pot of humans, elves, half-oni, and the crow-like tengu. Prejudices are rampant, pitting even the elves against each other. Hoverbike races, concerts of rock and roll fused with elf music, and artist communes of human and elves are proof that Pittsburgh can be a place where races and species can meet and meld in freedom.
Tinker is determined to make her city a place of such freedom. She's going to have to kick butt and take names. And she has to do it quickly. Seven elf children are already missing -- and the oni eat their prisoners when they outlive their usefulness.
Tinker uncovers ancient secrets and a web of betrayal as she searches for the children. The oni will stop at nothing to win, so neither can she. At five foot nothing, Tinker's greatest weapon has always been her intelligence. Politics, she discovers, is a battle of wits, and she's heavily armed.
376 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2012
71 people are currently reading
731 people want to read
About the author
Wen Spencer
41 books892 followersJohn W. Campbell Award Winner Wen Spencer resides in paradise in Hilo, Hawaii with two volcanoes overlooking her home. Spencer says that she often wakes up and exclaims "Oh my god, I live on an island in the middle of the Pacific!" This, says Spencer, is a far cry from her twenty years of living in land-locked Pittsburgh.
The Elfhome series opener, Tinker, won the 2003 Sapphire Award for Best Science Fiction Romance and was a finalist for the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Fantasy Novel. Wolf Who Rules, the sequel to Tinker, was chosen as a Top Pick by Romantic Times and given their top rating of four and a half stars. Other Baen books include space opera thriller Endless Blue and Eight Million Gods.
The Elfhome series opener, Tinker, won the 2003 Sapphire Award for Best Science Fiction Romance and was a finalist for the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Fantasy Novel. Wolf Who Rules, the sequel to Tinker, was chosen as a Top Pick by Romantic Times and given their top rating of four and a half stars. Other Baen books include space opera thriller Endless Blue and Eight Million Gods.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
January 8, 2017
Another one I basically read in a single sitting and will be rereading! (I really hate the cover, though.)
May 9, 2012
I’m torn about the third book in the ‘Elfhome’ series. I purchased the ebook ARC from Baen, because I couldn’t wait another day to reacquaint myself with Tinker’s world. I’m not disappointed at all, but I do feel a little melancholy. This entry in the series marks a serious turning point underscoring the fact that this is no longer Tinker’s tale. ‘Tinker’ is told solely from the heroine’s perspective, whereas in ‘Wolf Who Rules Wind’ perspective is split almost equally between Wind Wolf and Tinker.
Just under a third of ‘Elfhome’ is given to Tommy’s story. It fits in well with the overall storyline, but I don’t like Tommy. I never have, so I guess that makes me the not into anti-hero type, huh? On second thought…nyah--I just really don’t like Tommy.
Just over a third of the book actually favors Oilcan’s emergence onto Elfhome’s center stage. I like Oilcan just fine, of course, but he’s not Tinker. Oilcan has always reminded me of the character of Ukiah Oregon. I love the Ukiah series, but mainly because it is Ukiah’s series. If Tinker had been placed in his world, I’d like Ukiah—but I’d LOVE Tinker.
About a third of ‘Elfhome’ is given to Tinker, but not really. The essence of being Elf—specifically, being domi—is finally taking hold. Tinker is coming to terms with some aspects of these responsibilities. She is also coming to terms with adapting her way of thinking to the Elf way of doing.
But this is only a small part of Tinker’s one third perspective in the book. Most of her perspective is used to tell the stories of other characters. It’s like someone told Mrs. Spencer that the first two books were “all Tinker, all the time”—as if it’s a bad thing. The response was to whittle Tinker and Wind Wolf all but out of this third book. These two favorite characters are “there” in the book like they were “there” in the short stories about Elfhome articled at Baen books--and only available at Baen. These were minor character perspectives of Tinker, Wind Wolf, and Elfhome in general.
I’m aware of the anti-Mary Sue sentiment that pervades the urban fantasy community. I’m usually one of the voices writing a smack-down on these types of heroines in my reviews. But as Mary Sue as it may make her, there really isn’t any character more interesting than Tinker among all Elfhome peoples—at least not for me. I love the fact that Tinker is brilliant, conceited, brash, desirable, exuberant, and has no doubt that she can single-handedly take on all comers (with her non-superpower brain)—unless she can’t, and then…well. Tinker epitomizes the mantra “go big, or go home”. She is the female version of Roy Jones Jr. and Muhammad Ali—she too can show you AND tell you at the same time :=)
If Tinker is a special person, able to elevate others around her to a higher level, it makes her an extraordinary character. If she’s a special person able to elevate those around her to her own level, she then becomes common. When you write a great storyline that spawns an incredibly funny/clever/charismatic character like Tinker, it makes it harder for a reader to then have to reassess and relegate that character to ordinary class.
Just under a third of ‘Elfhome’ is given to Tommy’s story. It fits in well with the overall storyline, but I don’t like Tommy. I never have, so I guess that makes me the not into anti-hero type, huh? On second thought…nyah--I just really don’t like Tommy.
Just over a third of the book actually favors Oilcan’s emergence onto Elfhome’s center stage. I like Oilcan just fine, of course, but he’s not Tinker. Oilcan has always reminded me of the character of Ukiah Oregon. I love the Ukiah series, but mainly because it is Ukiah’s series. If Tinker had been placed in his world, I’d like Ukiah—but I’d LOVE Tinker.
About a third of ‘Elfhome’ is given to Tinker, but not really. The essence of being Elf—specifically, being domi—is finally taking hold. Tinker is coming to terms with some aspects of these responsibilities. She is also coming to terms with adapting her way of thinking to the Elf way of doing.
But this is only a small part of Tinker’s one third perspective in the book. Most of her perspective is used to tell the stories of other characters. It’s like someone told Mrs. Spencer that the first two books were “all Tinker, all the time”—as if it’s a bad thing. The response was to whittle Tinker and Wind Wolf all but out of this third book. These two favorite characters are “there” in the book like they were “there” in the short stories about Elfhome articled at Baen books--and only available at Baen. These were minor character perspectives of Tinker, Wind Wolf, and Elfhome in general.
I’m aware of the anti-Mary Sue sentiment that pervades the urban fantasy community. I’m usually one of the voices writing a smack-down on these types of heroines in my reviews. But as Mary Sue as it may make her, there really isn’t any character more interesting than Tinker among all Elfhome peoples—at least not for me. I love the fact that Tinker is brilliant, conceited, brash, desirable, exuberant, and has no doubt that she can single-handedly take on all comers (with her non-superpower brain)—unless she can’t, and then…well. Tinker epitomizes the mantra “go big, or go home”. She is the female version of Roy Jones Jr. and Muhammad Ali—she too can show you AND tell you at the same time :=)
If Tinker is a special person, able to elevate others around her to a higher level, it makes her an extraordinary character. If she’s a special person able to elevate those around her to her own level, she then becomes common. When you write a great storyline that spawns an incredibly funny/clever/charismatic character like Tinker, it makes it harder for a reader to then have to reassess and relegate that character to ordinary class.
September 5, 2013
3.5/5; 4 stars; B+
Its been a long time since I read either Tinker or Wolf Who Rules but when I got into Elfhome I had no problem engaging in their world again.
I really enjoyed Elfhome and the focus on Oilcan, Tommy and some members of the human, half-Oni and Elf community on the edges of Tinker's realm.
There was a lot going on in this book. I think Spencer did a good job on the character development and continued worldbuilding.
However, it felt a bit unfinished to me. A lot of threads were left dangling at the end of the story, leaving the door open for another book.
I would recommend reading "Peace Offering" by Wen Spencer as an 'extra' to this book. It is also found in the Baen Free Stories, 2012 collections.
It features the Elf, Forest Moss, who is referred to several times in this book as a real nutcase. (I read the short story before Elfhome so a a little disappointed he and Olivia didn't show up as bigger characters in Elfhome.)
Its been a long time since I read either Tinker or Wolf Who Rules but when I got into Elfhome I had no problem engaging in their world again.
I really enjoyed Elfhome and the focus on Oilcan, Tommy and some members of the human, half-Oni and Elf community on the edges of Tinker's realm.
There was a lot going on in this book. I think Spencer did a good job on the character development and continued worldbuilding.
However, it felt a bit unfinished to me. A lot of threads were left dangling at the end of the story, leaving the door open for another book.
I would recommend reading "Peace Offering" by Wen Spencer as an 'extra' to this book. It is also found in the Baen Free Stories, 2012 collections.
It features the Elf, Forest Moss, who is referred to several times in this book as a real nutcase. (I read the short story before Elfhome so a a little disappointed he and Olivia didn't show up as bigger characters in Elfhome.)
March 26, 2019
The books in this series are each better than those before them, this would get 6 stars, if that were possible.
September 6, 2016
My main problem with this book is that I'd really like to be reading a sequel to A Brother's Price, and I'm not. I enjoy the Tinker novels, and I think Spencer's done a really nice job at writing up a world which mixes a variety of mythic traditions without necessarily stomping on any of them too hard (though the Oni are a bit too close to a literal Yellow Peril for my taste). And, though it very well could, it doesn't feel like a Borderlands rip-off, something for which I'm grateful.
The preview on Baen's site was also good enough to get me to shell out for the E-ARC, which indicates that the book itself may be better than I'm giving it credit for. But it felt much more about the world Tinker and Oilcan live in than about them, and that gives it a lack of focus that the first book had. I enjoyed reading about the expanded scope of the characters, but I couldn't help but feel that it felt flabby by comparison.
If Spencer's going for a 'Manga' feel to it, she's got that down cold, including the romance and the obligatory fan service. It's fun, it's got a ton of energy, and it keeps rolling forward. None of the characters feel like they're carrying the Idiot Ball, including the villains, a major plus. But the plot resolution, while satisfying at the personal level, feels like she's setting up for the Big Confrontation Coming Soon Next Novel Really, and if the whole shebang is going the way it looks, we're going to be hitting a cast roster that could man a David Weber novel by book five, with similar lack of focus.
Overall a good read, not a great one. Wait for the paperback unless you're a huge Tinker fan.
The preview on Baen's site was also good enough to get me to shell out for the E-ARC, which indicates that the book itself may be better than I'm giving it credit for. But it felt much more about the world Tinker and Oilcan live in than about them, and that gives it a lack of focus that the first book had. I enjoyed reading about the expanded scope of the characters, but I couldn't help but feel that it felt flabby by comparison.
If Spencer's going for a 'Manga' feel to it, she's got that down cold, including the romance and the obligatory fan service. It's fun, it's got a ton of energy, and it keeps rolling forward. None of the characters feel like they're carrying the Idiot Ball, including the villains, a major plus. But the plot resolution, while satisfying at the personal level, feels like she's setting up for the Big Confrontation Coming Soon Next Novel Really, and if the whole shebang is going the way it looks, we're going to be hitting a cast roster that could man a David Weber novel by book five, with similar lack of focus.
Overall a good read, not a great one. Wait for the paperback unless you're a huge Tinker fan.
November 19, 2024
This book was an interesting one.
Firstly, it fractured into a lot of different POVs, some of which I found a lot more compelling than others. That meant that we were only following Tinker for ... mmm, I'd guess about 30% of the time. But we spent a lot of time with Oilcan, and I really enjoyed getting to know him better.
The differing POVs allowed the author to weave a pretty complicated story that all braided together into a really fun climax - I think I liked this story the most in the series so far, honestly. And while I struggled a bit with Tinker being a little sidelined, it also was a good story for her - she grew into her shoes a bit, and the super Mary Sue thing ramped down. Basically, everyone in this world has a lot of power (well, all the domana class, anyway, of which Tinker is one). In this book we see a whole bunch of people with a whole lot of power, and it doesn't help them much unless they are both clever and have a team on their side. I don't even know that you could say Tinker is one of the most powerful anymore.
We also got a clearer eye on who the real villain is. I'm really enjoying the unfolding of the overall series story, honestly.
My one quibble is that Windwolf was basically a non-entity in this book. And I want to flag that because if folks think this series is a romantasy ... it is not. The first book, and even a little of the second, made it seem like it might be, but it isn't. There's love, there's sex, but it isn't a grand love story with Tinker and Windwolf. There's hints of polyamory, and honestly, Windwolf barely intersected with Tinker in book 2 - they both had too much shit to do, and they both specialize in completely different things - and in this book they don't intersect at all. This series is fantasy / urban fantasy, with a fascinating magic system that seems to be partially physics, and a root in science overall (bioengineering, etc) to such a degree that I almost want to slap a sci-fi label on it despite the elves. I struggled a bit with book 1, but I'm now really enjoying it.
****4.5****
Firstly, it fractured into a lot of different POVs, some of which I found a lot more compelling than others. That meant that we were only following Tinker for ... mmm, I'd guess about 30% of the time. But we spent a lot of time with Oilcan, and I really enjoyed getting to know him better.
The differing POVs allowed the author to weave a pretty complicated story that all braided together into a really fun climax - I think I liked this story the most in the series so far, honestly. And while I struggled a bit with Tinker being a little sidelined, it also was a good story for her - she grew into her shoes a bit, and the super Mary Sue thing ramped down. Basically, everyone in this world has a lot of power (well, all the domana class, anyway, of which Tinker is one). In this book we see a whole bunch of people with a whole lot of power, and it doesn't help them much unless they are both clever and have a team on their side. I don't even know that you could say Tinker is one of the most powerful anymore.
We also got a clearer eye on who the real villain is. I'm really enjoying the unfolding of the overall series story, honestly.
My one quibble is that Windwolf was basically a non-entity in this book. And I want to flag that because if folks think this series is a romantasy ... it is not. The first book, and even a little of the second, made it seem like it might be, but it isn't. There's love, there's sex, but it isn't a grand love story with Tinker and Windwolf. There's hints of polyamory, and honestly, Windwolf barely intersected with Tinker in book 2 - they both had too much shit to do, and they both specialize in completely different things - and in this book they don't intersect at all. This series is fantasy / urban fantasy, with a fascinating magic system that seems to be partially physics, and a root in science overall (bioengineering, etc) to such a degree that I almost want to slap a sci-fi label on it despite the elves. I struggled a bit with book 1, but I'm now really enjoying it.
****4.5****
October 28, 2012
Elfhome is another great journey in the world Wen Spencer has created. This is the third book in the series and can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading Tinker and Wolf Who Rules first.
There is so much in Elfhome it is hard to know where to start so I will just pick a place.
Plot: Pittsburgh, which had been the gateway between Earth and Elfhome is now stranded on Elfhome. The gate between the two worlds was destroyed and has not been re-opened. There is more that one race around Pittsburgh and trust between those who should be allies is almost non-existent. While the oni look like the main enemy, maybe they are not. There are others hidden in plain sight that are not what they seem. Building trust while keeping from being wiped out is a big part of the plot.
Characters: All of the characters from previous books are back and a few new ones show up as well. It is really hard to say who is the main character in the book. The characters from different groups are a big part of moving the plot. Tinker and Oilcan are both back. Oilcan plays a much bigger role. A whole group of young elf's play a major role. I love the names (Fields of Barley, Cattail Reeds, Rustle of Leaves and Merry) define what they are and what they can do. Tommy, the half-oni, has a deep sense of honor, a need to protect his extended family but still works to help those who do not trust him or his kind. And there are all of the elves who are interesting side characters. The characters and their action truly drive this story
Worldbuilding: Now that Pittsburgh is entirely on Elfhome new things are coming to light. Dangerous and deadly events from Elfhome’s past are revealed as still dangerous today. The world around Pittsburgh just get more and more complex.
Writing: Wen Spencer knows her craft. Like all of her books Elfhome is very well written. The tension builds, the story moves and while all problems are not solved characters do get the good or bad that they deserve.
I loved the book and hope that the wait for the next one will not be as long. There are two short stories available as ebooks and Baen has a short story that goes with Elfhome on the Baen web site this month (October, 2012). Wen Spencer also has other books. You would not go wrong reading any of them.
There is so much in Elfhome it is hard to know where to start so I will just pick a place.
Plot: Pittsburgh, which had been the gateway between Earth and Elfhome is now stranded on Elfhome. The gate between the two worlds was destroyed and has not been re-opened. There is more that one race around Pittsburgh and trust between those who should be allies is almost non-existent. While the oni look like the main enemy, maybe they are not. There are others hidden in plain sight that are not what they seem. Building trust while keeping from being wiped out is a big part of the plot.
Characters: All of the characters from previous books are back and a few new ones show up as well. It is really hard to say who is the main character in the book. The characters from different groups are a big part of moving the plot. Tinker and Oilcan are both back. Oilcan plays a much bigger role. A whole group of young elf's play a major role. I love the names (Fields of Barley, Cattail Reeds, Rustle of Leaves and Merry) define what they are and what they can do. Tommy, the half-oni, has a deep sense of honor, a need to protect his extended family but still works to help those who do not trust him or his kind. And there are all of the elves who are interesting side characters. The characters and their action truly drive this story
Worldbuilding: Now that Pittsburgh is entirely on Elfhome new things are coming to light. Dangerous and deadly events from Elfhome’s past are revealed as still dangerous today. The world around Pittsburgh just get more and more complex.
Writing: Wen Spencer knows her craft. Like all of her books Elfhome is very well written. The tension builds, the story moves and while all problems are not solved characters do get the good or bad that they deserve.
I loved the book and hope that the wait for the next one will not be as long. There are two short stories available as ebooks and Baen has a short story that goes with Elfhome on the Baen web site this month (October, 2012). Wen Spencer also has other books. You would not go wrong reading any of them.
September 15, 2019
2019 reread! I still love this story!
February 5, 2020
So my favorite part of this book was all the intro to Oilcan, who I love so much. It gave some more in depth look at some of the other minor characters important to the story as well.
July 8, 2015
Wen Spencer is not a very prolific writer, but it’s worth the wait. Elfhome is the third in the Tinker series centered around a Pittsburgh that has come unhooked from our Earth and spends its time transplanted into the elf world, at least by this point in the series. If you haven’t read the first two books, Tinker and Wolf Who Rules, there’s a complex history, both of the characters and of the worlds that is referenced in Elfhome based somewhat on what occurred in the previous two, so if that would bug you, start at the beginning. You won’t regret it.
With Elfhome, Wen took some chances that worked amazingly for me. Not only did she bring some of the loved but secondary characters to the forefront, but she managed to have three interlaced storylines going at once with only one or two confusing moments as I realigned my brain. This is not a matter of a main story and strong subplots, at least not to my mind, but rather three separate tales, each with a separate protagonist and somewhat isolated events. She managed to keep me engaged with all three, and amazingly enough (because there was a moment of doubt as I realized how close we were to the end), she brought them all to a state of closure that was satisfying and both supported by the text and surprising all at once.
So who gets the limelight in Elfhome? Tinker plays a main role of course with her leaps in logic and mad genius for figuring out how things work, but it’s Oilcan and Tommy who are the surprise leads.
Oilcan, Tinker’s cousin, has always been there in the background, providing the steady rock from which Tinker leaps onto the back of a bucking bronco. He’s a favorite of mine, and I’d guess many of her readers, but he’s never had much more than a supporting role. It was always Tinker.
In Elfhome, this changes. A third of the book (split throughout the length), or maybe a little more, is all about Oilcan, his wants, his desires, and his needs. It’s about who he is and what he needs to do to adjust to his new state…and how his very nature complicates his life. Okay, that’s very obscure, but I don’t want to give anything away. It’s worth reading just to find out the layers that are hidden beneath Oilcan’s stoic nature. Besides, he’s delightful as a leading man, as much so if not more than as Tinker’s rock.
Tommy, the half-oni with a huge–well-deserved and supported–chip on his shoulder, takes up the other piece of this book. We stand shoulder to shoulder with him as he tries to hold together the pieces of his family in a world with very different rules than the one he’d been born into, and where his cat ears mean he is hated and distrusted by the elves no matter what he does. Not even saving Wolf Who Rules (as he did in the previous books) is enough to count him ally, and his best bet, according to the elves, is to swear his family over to one of the elf clans when all he wants is to stand alone, to be no one’s slave.
He’s a wonderfully complex character to start, but this book takes that even further, setting him up to examine what he’s always known and to reveal the ways he’s right…and the ways he needs to grow.
I really wanted to start this review with a snarky comment about how Wen owes me for twisting my knee, but I figured that would send the wrong message. However, it says a lot that I was so close to the end and wanted to see how she pulled everything together so much that I curled up on the floor and read the rest without realizing the position I was in torqued my knee out of joint. It was worth hobbling about on a cane for an hour or so, but at the same time it’s even more frustrating because I wasted the rest of the book in a lightning flash, and now I have to wait until the next one comes out.
Wen’s strength is her characters. It always has been. Not that her stories are weak, but her characters are shining strong. When I hang out in their company, I don’t want to leave it. And she has down the ability to provide a satisfying ending that wraps up the key threads while leaving questions lingering that need to be answered. It’s the double-edged sword of delighting in a great read and sorrowing in a great read done with a wait for the next that tells me I’m caught in a net of her making, and when the next book comes out, I’ll be right there with figurative cash in hand to snap it up.
With Elfhome, Wen took some chances that worked amazingly for me. Not only did she bring some of the loved but secondary characters to the forefront, but she managed to have three interlaced storylines going at once with only one or two confusing moments as I realigned my brain. This is not a matter of a main story and strong subplots, at least not to my mind, but rather three separate tales, each with a separate protagonist and somewhat isolated events. She managed to keep me engaged with all three, and amazingly enough (because there was a moment of doubt as I realized how close we were to the end), she brought them all to a state of closure that was satisfying and both supported by the text and surprising all at once.
So who gets the limelight in Elfhome? Tinker plays a main role of course with her leaps in logic and mad genius for figuring out how things work, but it’s Oilcan and Tommy who are the surprise leads.
Oilcan, Tinker’s cousin, has always been there in the background, providing the steady rock from which Tinker leaps onto the back of a bucking bronco. He’s a favorite of mine, and I’d guess many of her readers, but he’s never had much more than a supporting role. It was always Tinker.
In Elfhome, this changes. A third of the book (split throughout the length), or maybe a little more, is all about Oilcan, his wants, his desires, and his needs. It’s about who he is and what he needs to do to adjust to his new state…and how his very nature complicates his life. Okay, that’s very obscure, but I don’t want to give anything away. It’s worth reading just to find out the layers that are hidden beneath Oilcan’s stoic nature. Besides, he’s delightful as a leading man, as much so if not more than as Tinker’s rock.
Tommy, the half-oni with a huge–well-deserved and supported–chip on his shoulder, takes up the other piece of this book. We stand shoulder to shoulder with him as he tries to hold together the pieces of his family in a world with very different rules than the one he’d been born into, and where his cat ears mean he is hated and distrusted by the elves no matter what he does. Not even saving Wolf Who Rules (as he did in the previous books) is enough to count him ally, and his best bet, according to the elves, is to swear his family over to one of the elf clans when all he wants is to stand alone, to be no one’s slave.
He’s a wonderfully complex character to start, but this book takes that even further, setting him up to examine what he’s always known and to reveal the ways he’s right…and the ways he needs to grow.
I really wanted to start this review with a snarky comment about how Wen owes me for twisting my knee, but I figured that would send the wrong message. However, it says a lot that I was so close to the end and wanted to see how she pulled everything together so much that I curled up on the floor and read the rest without realizing the position I was in torqued my knee out of joint. It was worth hobbling about on a cane for an hour or so, but at the same time it’s even more frustrating because I wasted the rest of the book in a lightning flash, and now I have to wait until the next one comes out.
Wen’s strength is her characters. It always has been. Not that her stories are weak, but her characters are shining strong. When I hang out in their company, I don’t want to leave it. And she has down the ability to provide a satisfying ending that wraps up the key threads while leaving questions lingering that need to be answered. It’s the double-edged sword of delighting in a great read and sorrowing in a great read done with a wait for the next that tells me I’m caught in a net of her making, and when the next book comes out, I’ll be right there with figurative cash in hand to snap it up.
January 25, 2012
Oi. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this one yet. While the official release isn't until July, Baen had the brilliant idea to sell the unproofed (and hopefully unedited as well) manuscript as an e-ARC at $15 a pop. I don't know if I'd precisely say it's worth it, but if you divide the 15 by the 6 months you would otherwise have to wait, it works about to $2.50 a month. A very reasonable expense for your rabid Wen Spencer fanperson. A note of caution, though, it's definitely a rough draft. The typos aren't too bad (although Spencer consistently mis-spells 'performed' as 'preformed'), but there are some difficulties with the characterization, continuity, and uneveness with the plot. If I was Spencer's beta reader, I would have kicked this back with a mess of notes, but judging by the length of time between books, I'm guessing she was late turning in the manuscript and just sent in what she had. Just be aware of what you're going to get with the e-ARC and spare a kind thought for Spencer's editor.
As far as the book itself is concerned, you absolutely must read Tinker and Wolf Who Rules prior to Elfhome. You will be absolutely lost otherwise. I was kind of convinced Spencer retconned a character as I had absolutely no recollection of him in any of the previous two books, but Google informs me that he was the subject of a free short story, "For Blue Sky," released waaaaay back in 2006. So read that too. Spencer's main gift is her incredible world-building skills, but she rarely retreads the same ground and seems to have the expectation you know what she is talking about. In addition, while it's been five or six years for the reader since Wolf Who Rules was published, the actions off Elfhome occur almost immediately after that book.
Elfhome also jumps between three different points of view: Tinker, Oilcan, and Tommy. I didn't count pages or anything, but I felt like Tinker had the least amount of chapters, with Oilcan being the predominant narrator. Windwolf is barely in it, Pony and Stormsong act as Tinker's Greek Chorus, and Tooloo makes one appearance in an Oilcan chapter. Rikii, Lain, and Esme all return to close up their plot arcs. I actually really enjoyed Oilcan and his story arc the most, and, while Tinker & Tommy were entertaining with their distinctive voices & personalities, I was always eager to get back to Oilcan & his 'enclave.' While I would like to read more about Oilcan and company, I do feel Elfhome was sort of a satisfactory end to the series. There are still unanswered questions that Spencer could base another book on, but personally speaking, I felt like, 'Okay. I'm good now.'
I do want to include some content warnings here. There is sex in the book and Tommy has a very male frame of mind with regards to it. There is also murder, attempted rape, allusions to torture, and some very uncomfortable scenes involving children, alive and dead. However, the bulk of the squick factors take place off screen and the reader is mainly watching the characters deal with the fallout.
Edited to add: The cover is very misleading. While Impatience the dragon does play a sort of pivotal role in the plot, his actual appearances are brief and no other dragon can be considered a major character. Also, yes, Tinker is vital to the plot and remains the character we all know & love, but as I stated before, I feel that Oilcan is actually the predominant narrator. And he's awesome!
As far as the book itself is concerned, you absolutely must read Tinker and Wolf Who Rules prior to Elfhome. You will be absolutely lost otherwise. I was kind of convinced Spencer retconned a character as I had absolutely no recollection of him in any of the previous two books, but Google informs me that he was the subject of a free short story, "For Blue Sky," released waaaaay back in 2006. So read that too. Spencer's main gift is her incredible world-building skills, but she rarely retreads the same ground and seems to have the expectation you know what she is talking about. In addition, while it's been five or six years for the reader since Wolf Who Rules was published, the actions off Elfhome occur almost immediately after that book.
Elfhome also jumps between three different points of view: Tinker, Oilcan, and Tommy. I didn't count pages or anything, but I felt like Tinker had the least amount of chapters, with Oilcan being the predominant narrator. Windwolf is barely in it, Pony and Stormsong act as Tinker's Greek Chorus, and Tooloo makes one appearance in an Oilcan chapter. Rikii, Lain, and Esme all return to close up their plot arcs. I actually really enjoyed Oilcan and his story arc the most, and, while Tinker & Tommy were entertaining with their distinctive voices & personalities, I was always eager to get back to Oilcan & his 'enclave.' While I would like to read more about Oilcan and company, I do feel Elfhome was sort of a satisfactory end to the series. There are still unanswered questions that Spencer could base another book on, but personally speaking, I felt like, 'Okay. I'm good now.'
I do want to include some content warnings here. There is sex in the book and Tommy has a very male frame of mind with regards to it. There is also murder, attempted rape, allusions to torture, and some very uncomfortable scenes involving children, alive and dead. However, the bulk of the squick factors take place off screen and the reader is mainly watching the characters deal with the fallout.
Edited to add: The cover is very misleading. While Impatience the dragon does play a sort of pivotal role in the plot, his actual appearances are brief and no other dragon can be considered a major character. Also, yes, Tinker is vital to the plot and remains the character we all know & love, but as I stated before, I feel that Oilcan is actually the predominant narrator. And he's awesome!
November 26, 2018
This felt like several books in one with its convoluted story line, but it was very enjoyable. I was a bit surprised how quickly elf women apparently jump into bed - I actually googled Wen Spencer to make sure she wasn't a man - but it all fits nicely together. I'm looking forward to Wood Sprites.
September 13, 2025
This third book in the Elfhome series is told from multiple viewpoints. While Tinker does have a substantial role, the focus for me was on her cousin Oilcan. Oilcan has been the supportive side-kick in earlier books but this time he gets center stage.
His story begins when he rescues a Stone Clan child who has just arrived on the train. She is being kidnapped when Oilcan comes on the scene. Saving her leads to a conspiracy wherein multiple Stone Clan children have been drawn to Pittsburgh and then kidnapped to be experimented on by oni.
Because Pittsburgh is under control of the Wind Clan, no one at the train station did anything to help these children. Oilcan calls in Tinker to help rescue the children and finds them in horrible situations. The only Stone Clan in the city are very unsuitable as guardians which is why Oilcan ends up responsible for five Stone Clan children who are in various states of distress including one who has lost her name and memories and only makes the sound of a duckling and is called Baby Duck.
Oilcan needs a new home that will accommodate his expanded family and takes over a former girls' school which needs lots of repair. That brings in Riki and his clan of tengu who have been taken under Tinker's care despite the way he betrayed her to the oni. Tinker can forgive him but Oilcan isn't there yet. Oilcan contemplates sponsorship by Wind clan but hesitates when he finds out the depth of commitment needed.
Meanwhile, Tommy Chang is also dealing with the new situation in Pittsburgh. He is the head of his group of half-oni - most of whom are either children or pregnant women. Although Windwolf offers sponsorship to him, Tommy sees it as just another kind of slavery and his people have been slaves to their oni masters for far too long. It takes the head of the tengu reframing the situation for him before he realizes that he needs relationships with other groups if he's to keep his own people safe.
As Tinker tries to discover why the oni wanted the children Oilcan is now protecting, she discovers a long-term plot with some members of Stone Clan cooperating with, or being puppets for, a new oni leader who is determined to conquer Elfhome. Tommy discovers huge encampments of oni in the wilderness outsside Pittsburgh while he is looking for a kidnapped member of Stone Clan whom he is searching for to forestall being blamed for her disappearance.
The worldbuilding in this story was excellent. It was fascinating to see the various groups - elves, humans, half-oni, and tengu - try to learn to work together and build a new sort of society. The characters were richly drawn and brought to life by Tana Eby's masterful narration of this story.
His story begins when he rescues a Stone Clan child who has just arrived on the train. She is being kidnapped when Oilcan comes on the scene. Saving her leads to a conspiracy wherein multiple Stone Clan children have been drawn to Pittsburgh and then kidnapped to be experimented on by oni.
Because Pittsburgh is under control of the Wind Clan, no one at the train station did anything to help these children. Oilcan calls in Tinker to help rescue the children and finds them in horrible situations. The only Stone Clan in the city are very unsuitable as guardians which is why Oilcan ends up responsible for five Stone Clan children who are in various states of distress including one who has lost her name and memories and only makes the sound of a duckling and is called Baby Duck.
Oilcan needs a new home that will accommodate his expanded family and takes over a former girls' school which needs lots of repair. That brings in Riki and his clan of tengu who have been taken under Tinker's care despite the way he betrayed her to the oni. Tinker can forgive him but Oilcan isn't there yet. Oilcan contemplates sponsorship by Wind clan but hesitates when he finds out the depth of commitment needed.
Meanwhile, Tommy Chang is also dealing with the new situation in Pittsburgh. He is the head of his group of half-oni - most of whom are either children or pregnant women. Although Windwolf offers sponsorship to him, Tommy sees it as just another kind of slavery and his people have been slaves to their oni masters for far too long. It takes the head of the tengu reframing the situation for him before he realizes that he needs relationships with other groups if he's to keep his own people safe.
As Tinker tries to discover why the oni wanted the children Oilcan is now protecting, she discovers a long-term plot with some members of Stone Clan cooperating with, or being puppets for, a new oni leader who is determined to conquer Elfhome. Tommy discovers huge encampments of oni in the wilderness outsside Pittsburgh while he is looking for a kidnapped member of Stone Clan whom he is searching for to forestall being blamed for her disappearance.
The worldbuilding in this story was excellent. It was fascinating to see the various groups - elves, humans, half-oni, and tengu - try to learn to work together and build a new sort of society. The characters were richly drawn and brought to life by Tana Eby's masterful narration of this story.
August 30, 2024
5 stars with distinction!!!
OMG!!!!!! My series reread reaches my favourite volume. The star of this entry has to be Oilcan. Oilcan is a mega god in this book. The worldbuilding is still at premium best but we now get politics! The clans are moribund and insular, the politics deadly and devious - just the way I like 'em! We spread out further still from Tinker with glimpses into not just her POV but Windwolf, Oilcan and Tommy Chang. This is an excellent reflection on the series growth as a whole - at first we only saw the world through Tinker but even as her view of the world has expanded and changed so too has ours. The characterisation comes close to the fore now - the world building is comfortably placed and it allows the players to shine. The only problem now is I want the book after Wood Sprites Elfhome 4 to already be out! I'm looking forward to Wood Sprites Elfhome 4 since I've not read it and it is the newest in the series, but I am fully and sadly aware it is set in the timeframe of the three prior books and is earthbound. In other words the best is still yet to come and patience is not my strong suit!
We Are Pittsburgh!
OMG!!!!!! My series reread reaches my favourite volume. The star of this entry has to be Oilcan. Oilcan is a mega god in this book. The worldbuilding is still at premium best but we now get politics! The clans are moribund and insular, the politics deadly and devious - just the way I like 'em! We spread out further still from Tinker with glimpses into not just her POV but Windwolf, Oilcan and Tommy Chang. This is an excellent reflection on the series growth as a whole - at first we only saw the world through Tinker but even as her view of the world has expanded and changed so too has ours. The characterisation comes close to the fore now - the world building is comfortably placed and it allows the players to shine. The only problem now is I want the book after Wood Sprites Elfhome 4 to already be out! I'm looking forward to Wood Sprites Elfhome 4 since I've not read it and it is the newest in the series, but I am fully and sadly aware it is set in the timeframe of the three prior books and is earthbound. In other words the best is still yet to come and patience is not my strong suit!
We Are Pittsburgh!
July 15, 2021
I still want more Tinker! Again, Wen Spencer takes some very disparate elements and weaves them into an interesting and unexpected journey. As the third book, i expected to know sortof where the story was going, sure, there were several groups at odds and that needed to be resolved but i found myself questioning ... where is this story going?
Spencer always has the ability to surprise me. I love it. So often i read books that follow the same paths as many others in the genre. Its nice to not know what the journey looks like ahead of time. I did feel like the reader was pulled in this direction or that direction with very little warning and sometimes it was disorientating. But by the end, all paths converged very nicely. I really hope this isn't the last book. Spencer is a great world builder but her writing is very focused on the characters. I want to learn more about the elves homeworld and politics but I also really enjoy the characters. Tinker seems to really start to become an adult in this installment. I'd love to see her cause more hovac for the elves.
Spencer always has the ability to surprise me. I love it. So often i read books that follow the same paths as many others in the genre. Its nice to not know what the journey looks like ahead of time. I did feel like the reader was pulled in this direction or that direction with very little warning and sometimes it was disorientating. But by the end, all paths converged very nicely. I really hope this isn't the last book. Spencer is a great world builder but her writing is very focused on the characters. I want to learn more about the elves homeworld and politics but I also really enjoy the characters. Tinker seems to really start to become an adult in this installment. I'd love to see her cause more hovac for the elves.
September 7, 2012
My rating for this book is really a 3.5. Because the author's worlds are very complex, a summary of the important points from the previous books or a glossary with explanations of the main characters and some of the elven/tengu/oni terms would have really helped. I have read several thousand books since "Wolf Who Rules" came out in 2006 and I just don't remember the intricacies of this world, but the story assumes that I do. This lack of background cues kept pulling me out of the story. I ended up having to just skim over parts and plug along, grasping for the details I did know.
Having said this, I do love this world and the depth of the characters. Tinker, Oilcan, and Tommy were the focus and I particularly loved getting to know Oilcan better. I did miss Wolf, since he was not around as much, only showing up a few times between leading battles with the oni. I will continue to read this series, if the author continues, but really hope that more background info is included next time.
Having said this, I do love this world and the depth of the characters. Tinker, Oilcan, and Tommy were the focus and I particularly loved getting to know Oilcan better. I did miss Wolf, since he was not around as much, only showing up a few times between leading battles with the oni. I will continue to read this series, if the author continues, but really hope that more background info is included next time.
July 11, 2012
I've looked forward to this book since I read the first book in the series and fell in love with the main character, a girl genius named Tinker.
This third book in the series (and please, God, let there be more) follows Tinker's cousin/brother Oilcan as he gets over losing his human cousin to the elves and figures out what to do with his life if he's not following Tinker around while she invents new motorcycles that fly and blows other stuff up.
It's a massive tale wrapped up in beautifully clean language that encompasses everything from war, coming of age, finding family, accepting who you are, genocide, the nature of truth, trust, faith, and even love. But it done in such a way that it is given lightness and joy and is a sheer pleasure to read.
My complaints are miniscule -- minor word misusage a few times that the aging editor in me could not miss.
And the book was over far, far too soon and was millions of pages too short.
This third book in the series (and please, God, let there be more) follows Tinker's cousin/brother Oilcan as he gets over losing his human cousin to the elves and figures out what to do with his life if he's not following Tinker around while she invents new motorcycles that fly and blows other stuff up.
It's a massive tale wrapped up in beautifully clean language that encompasses everything from war, coming of age, finding family, accepting who you are, genocide, the nature of truth, trust, faith, and even love. But it done in such a way that it is given lightness and joy and is a sheer pleasure to read.
My complaints are miniscule -- minor word misusage a few times that the aging editor in me could not miss.
And the book was over far, far too soon and was millions of pages too short.
November 5, 2012
The third book in a urban fantasy series the first were Tinker and Wolf Who Rules. Some series, it doesn't matter the order the books are read in. That's not true here. The earlier books were primarily about Tinker.
Oilcan, Tinker’s cousin, has always been backstory in these books, but in this one, he tells his own story too, as does Tommy, the half- oni. Tommy and his relations have been nothing but slaves, but Tommy wants more and he becomes a Hero. Oilcan adopts some kids and finds a new place to live with them. Meanwhile, Tinker’s kicking butt, whenever Windwalker’s not around, and she’s not healing from her last butt kicking, which is most of the time. Fun, funny, denser than I remembered, which is a very good thing.
Oilcan, Tinker’s cousin, has always been backstory in these books, but in this one, he tells his own story too, as does Tommy, the half- oni. Tommy and his relations have been nothing but slaves, but Tommy wants more and he becomes a Hero. Oilcan adopts some kids and finds a new place to live with them. Meanwhile, Tinker’s kicking butt, whenever Windwalker’s not around, and she’s not healing from her last butt kicking, which is most of the time. Fun, funny, denser than I remembered, which is a very good thing.
January 1, 2013
I’m a fan of Wen Spencer, ever since I glommed her Ukiah Oregon series way back when, but I haven’t read any of her books for a long time. ELFHOME is the third book in her Tinker series – here’s where I admit I thought I had read the second book, but realised probably about a quarter of the way through ELFHOME that I hadn’t. Ooops. By that time, I was too engrossed in the story that I didn’t want to put it down and find the second book, which probably gives you quite a good indication that Wen Spencer can tell a story. The Tinker world is a unusual amalgamation of magic and technology, with both elves and computers coming together in a not-quite-Pittsburgh setting (and this was probably more unique when the first book was released back in 2003 than it is now). ELFHOME had a good-triumphing-over-evil, feel-good story line – I really enjoyed it.
A version originally published on my blog:
http://bookdaze.wordpress.com/2012/08...
A version originally published on my blog:
http://bookdaze.wordpress.com/2012/08...
October 26, 2013
Okay 3 things I realized about the cover illustrator Clyde Caldwell. Firstly, he loves boobies. Secondly, he didn't read the book because Tinker is 18. Which leads to my third point, the woman on the cover is no where near 18 - probably late 30s - and Clyde must be in love with her to put her on the cover even though she much older than Tinker.
I love this series. I can't remember who first turned me on to it, but it's just wonderful. Elves have found a home in a Pittsburg that's actually part of their world but with all the buildings, streets, etc., and then once a month humans were able to go back and forth until Tinker tried to stop some baddies and everyone got stuck. This is them all trying to figure out how to live together when other people are trying to drive them apart. I'll keep reading the books in this series as long as the author wants to write them.
I love this series. I can't remember who first turned me on to it, but it's just wonderful. Elves have found a home in a Pittsburg that's actually part of their world but with all the buildings, streets, etc., and then once a month humans were able to go back and forth until Tinker tried to stop some baddies and everyone got stuck. This is them all trying to figure out how to live together when other people are trying to drive them apart. I'll keep reading the books in this series as long as the author wants to write them.
July 17, 2012
Elfhome is the third installment in the Elfhome series following Tinker and Wolf Who Rules. It continues the adventures of our intrepid girl genius turned elf Tinker. Whilst the previous two books almost entirely followed Tinker, here the story is divided between Tinker and two additional characters, the half-oni Tommy Chang and Tinkers cousin Oilcan.
Tinker is as usual amusing, amazing and bullish. But this is Oilcan's story really. Tinker was always the cornerstone of his life, but her elf transformation radically changed the lives of both Tinker and Oilcan. Oilcan's been a little lost since, here we follow his adventures as he finds his path...
Ms Spencer delivers another great read. I loved the characters and the plot. Highly recommended.
My Rating: 9/10
Tinker is as usual amusing, amazing and bullish. But this is Oilcan's story really. Tinker was always the cornerstone of his life, but her elf transformation radically changed the lives of both Tinker and Oilcan. Oilcan's been a little lost since, here we follow his adventures as he finds his path...
Ms Spencer delivers another great read. I loved the characters and the plot. Highly recommended.
My Rating: 9/10
January 10, 2012
Got the eARC from Baen.(Yay don't have to wait for July)
Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!(Except for the cover - ugh).
I loved that the story focused on several characters and not just a few.
It has been a while since I read Tinker and Wolf Who Rules so it took me a while to remember some of the details. I may have to go back and re-read them all in order now to more fully appreciate the book.
I sure hope there's going to be more books but I hope we don't have to wait another 6 years for the next one.
Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!(Except for the cover - ugh).
I loved that the story focused on several characters and not just a few.
It has been a while since I read Tinker and Wolf Who Rules so it took me a while to remember some of the details. I may have to go back and re-read them all in order now to more fully appreciate the book.
I sure hope there's going to be more books but I hope we don't have to wait another 6 years for the next one.
February 13, 2013
Man, is that an embarrassing cover - I wish they'd get a different artist. Aside from that though, this was an enjoyable continuation of the series. I feel like this is maybe not the world's best series, but it's fast paced and pulpy and I really enjoy it, so whatever :) I had fun seeing what's happening with the characters I already know, and I liked how they expanded the world by introducing the inter-clan dynamics.
I'll definitely pick this up when it's in paperback.
I'll definitely pick this up when it's in paperback.
April 5, 2013
There was very little Windwolf in this one but much more Oilcan than I remember in either of the others.
Biggest Complaint: What was with all the missing words? This was in bad need of a better editor! We were missing "had" and "to" all over the place!! It kept pulling me out of the story and made me want to go find a red pen to mark up my copy with and mail it back to Baen!
All in all though, more please!
Biggest Complaint: What was with all the missing words? This was in bad need of a better editor! We were missing "had" and "to" all over the place!! It kept pulling me out of the story and made me want to go find a red pen to mark up my copy with and mail it back to Baen!
All in all though, more please!
December 5, 2015
There are too many characters too keep track of, so the subplots don't dovetail smoothly at the climax. This was a real disappointment because I loved Tinker and Wolf Who Rules. Oilcan gets to shine, which is nice, but Pony doesn't do much other than calm Tinker down every time she gets angry, which is a lot. There's so much more potential in this series I hope to see more books, but I also hope they will live up to the original promise.
October 6, 2025
I just finished reading this book for the fourth time in 10 months. The Elfhome series is absolutely amazing! I really love it...and I hope Wen Spencer decides to add to it in the near future.
Edit, added 7 years later: I have read this particular volume of the Elfhome series individually a number of times. So much happens in the book, yes, but I find the ending particularly hopeful. It may be a reaction to the way my own life is running at the moment that I really love this positive ending.
Edit, added 7 years later: I have read this particular volume of the Elfhome series individually a number of times. So much happens in the book, yes, but I find the ending particularly hopeful. It may be a reaction to the way my own life is running at the moment that I really love this positive ending.
August 7, 2012
This book was wonderful. (The ARC is available on the baen.com site).
The hanging threads from Wolf Who Rules are tightened up & tied off. But a new set of plot points are flying off to the ends of the earth.
The focus of the story is shared between Tinker, Oilcan, Tommy & the Tengu. The book is well worth the wait -- and I certainly hope the beginning of more!
The hanging threads from Wolf Who Rules are tightened up & tied off. But a new set of plot points are flying off to the ends of the earth.
The focus of the story is shared between Tinker, Oilcan, Tommy & the Tengu. The book is well worth the wait -- and I certainly hope the beginning of more!
May 26, 2017
I was just in such a sour mood today that I didn't enjoy so much, but the plot was really well thought out...
June 27, 2024
Dragons, elves, magic, science, children, tengu, half-oni, war, chemistry, physics, change, betrayal, culture, heredity, heroism, family, knights of the round table. This book made me incredibly happy.
August 14, 2018
A good ending to the Tinker trilogy, while still leaving lots of story room if Wen wants to revisit this world. I liked the wrap up on several levels, though occasionally a little choppy.
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